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The comparison between average incomes in red states (Republican-leaning) and blue states (Democrat-leaning) often sparks interesting discussions regarding economic policies, cost of living, and quality of life. Based on the data from the 2020 presidential election of Donald Trump against President Joe Biden which was won by Joe Biden by an electoral vote of 306 to 232. Data also sourced from Tax Foundation 2023 to determine income and tax burdens. Let’s examine the average take-home salaries for single and married filers in selected red and blue states to see if any patterns emerge.
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Red States (Republican)
- Alabama:
- Median income: $54,943
- Tax burden: 20.92%
- Annual salary taken home: $43,447
- Alaska:
- Median income: $80,287
- Tax burden: 20.01%
- Annual salary taken home: $64,221
- Arkansas:
- Median income: $52,123
- Tax burden: 20.67%
- Annual salary taken home: $41,352
- Florida:
- Median income: $61,777
- Tax burden: 17.12%
- Annual salary taken home: $51,200
- Idaho:
- Median income: $63,377
- Tax burden: 22.05%
- Annual salary taken home: $49,401
- Indiana:
- Median income: $61,944
- Tax burden: 20.31%
- Annual salary taken home: $49,366
- Iowa:
- Median income: $65,429
- Tax burden: 22.89%
- Annual salary taken home: $50,455
- Kansas:
- Median income: $64,521
- Tax burden: 22.33%
- Annual salary taken home: $50,109
- Kentucky:
- Median income: $55,454
- Tax burden: 20.54%
- Annual salary taken home: $44,069
- Louisiana:
- Median income: $53,571
- Tax burden: 19.30%
- Annual salary taken home: $43,230
- Mississippi:
- Median income: $49,111
- Tax burden: 19.57%
- Annual salary taken home: $39,502
- Missouri:
- Median income: $61,043
- Tax burden: 20.84%
- Annual salary taken home: $48,320
- Montana:
- Median income: $60,560
- Tax burden: 22.14%
- Annual salary taken home: $47,152
- Nebraska:
- Median income: $66,644
- Tax burden: 22.62%
- Annual salary taken home: $51,573
- North Dakota:
- Median income: $68,131
- Tax burden: 19.38%
- Annual salary taken home: $54,925
- North Carolina:
- Median income: $60,516
- Tax burden: 20.61%
- Annual salary taken home: $48,044
- Ohio:
- Median income: $61,938
- Tax burden: 18.93%
- Annual salary taken home: $50,208
- Oklahoma:
- Median income: $56,956
- Tax burden: 20.24%
- Annual salary taken home: $45,431
- South Carolina:
- Median income: $58,234
- Tax burden: 20.93%
- Annual salary taken home: $46,048
- South Dakota:
- Median income: $63,920
- Tax burden: 17.54%
- Annual salary taken home: $52,707
- Tennessee:
- Median income: $58,516
- Tax burden: 16.43%
- Annual salary taken home: $48,900
- Texas:
- Median income: $67,321
- Tax burden: 18.15%
- Annual salary taken home: $55,100
- Utah:
- Median income: $79,133
- Tax burden: 24.77%
- Annual salary taken home: $59,530
- West Virginia:
- Median income: $50,884
- Tax burden: 20.33%
- Annual salary taken home: $40,539
- Wyoming:
- Median income: $68,002
- Tax burden: 18.27%
- Annual salary taken home: $55,579
Blue States (Democratic)
- Arizona:
- Median income: $65,913
- Tax burden: 19.92%
- Annual salary taken home: $52,786
- California:
- Median income: $84,097
- Tax burden: 25.65%
- Annual salary taken home: $62,525
- Colorado:
- Median income: $80,184
- Tax burden: 23.82%
- Annual salary taken home: $61,090
- Connecticut:
- Median income: $83,572
- Tax burden: 25.35%
- Annual salary taken home: $62,387
- Delaware:
- Median income: $72,724
- Tax burden: 23.92%
- Annual salary taken home: $55,332
- Georgia:
- Median income: $65,030
- Tax burden: 22.76%
- Annual salary taken home: $50,232
- Hawaii:
- Median income: $88,005
- Tax burden: 28.06%
- Annual salary taken home: $63,318
- Illinois:
- Median income: $72,563
- Tax burden: 23.93%
- Annual salary taken home: $55,196
- Maine:
- Median income: $63,182
- Tax burden: 22.42%
- Annual salary taken home: $49,016
- Maryland:
- Median income: $91,431
- Tax burden: 25.76%
- Annual salary taken home: $67,883
- Massachusetts:
- Median income: $89,026
- Tax burden: 25.96%
- Annual salary taken home: $65,919
- Michigan:
- Median income: $63,202
- Tax burden: 21.65%
- Annual salary taken home: $49,516
- Minnesota:
- Median income: $77,706
- Tax burden: 24.84%
- Annual salary taken home: $58,405
- Nevada:
- Median income: $65,686
- Tax burden: 17.87%
- Annual salary taken home: $53,950
- New Hampshire:
- Median income: $83,449
- Tax burden: 20.38%
- Annual salary taken home: $66,446
- New Jersey:
- Median income: $89,703
- Tax burden: 25.02%
- Annual salary taken home: $67,256
- New Mexico:
- Median income: $54,020
- Tax burden: 19.38%
- Annual salary taken home: $43,554
- New York:
- Median income: $75,157
- Tax burden: 24.29%
- Annual salary taken home: $56,897
- Oregon:
- Median income: $70,084
- Tax burden: 26.69%
- Annual salary taken home: $51,380
- Pennsylvania:
- Median income: $67,587
- Tax burden: 21.27%
- Annual salary taken home: $53,212
- Rhode Island:
- Median income: $74,489
- Tax burden: 22.54%
- Annual salary taken home: $57,698
- Vermont:
- Median income: $67,674
- Tax burden: 22.22%
- Annual salary taken home: $52,631
- Virginia:
- Median income: $80,615
- Tax burden: 25.16%
- Annual salary taken home: $60,333
- Washington:
- Median income: $82,400
- Tax burden: 20.26%
- Annual salary taken home: $65,707
- Wisconsin:
- Median income: $67,080
- Tax burden: 22.02%
- Annual salary taken home: $52,307
Analysis
Based on the data:
- Average Median Income for Red States: $63,553
- Average Tax Burden for Red States: 20.60%
- Average Annual Salary Taken Home for Red States: $50,460
- Average Median Income for Blue States: $74,243
- Average Tax Burden for Blue States: 23.46%
- Average Annual Salary Taken Home for Blue States: $56,795
Conclusion
The updated analysis shows that blue states have a higher average median income compared to red states. However, blue states also have a higher average tax burden. Despite the higher taxes, residents in blue states still take home a higher average annual salary compared to those in red states.
Editor’s note: This article was produced via automated technology and then fine-tuned and verified for accuracy by a member of GOBankingRates’ editorial team.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Who Has a Higher Average Income? Red States vs. Blue States
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